Simple car audio

The Miata I just bought has an old Blaupunkt radio/tape player that doesn't work very well. I have been thinking about options to replace it. I could just get a cheap head unit with an aux input but I rarely use the radio or cd player, 99% of the time I am using my iPod when in the car.

I was thinking about doing away with the headunit alltogether and just having an input for the ipod. My plan consisted of an amp that the ipod would be input to and then feed the two speakers. The radio area would just have a block-off plate with the input and a knob to control the volume of the amp.

Does this sound like a good idea?

No.

There will be times when you wish you had a radio.

Sounds okay to me, but I only listen to my iPod. I haven't listened to the radio since NPR started making podcasts.

That being said, there are numerous advantages to having a headunit. With just an amp, you lose your balance and fader setting. Also, it will take up more space, since you aren't going to mount it where the radio hole will be. That being said, you can get more for your money (as far as sound quality) if you just go with an amp.

Sounds like a great idea, remember, most new iPods have radios in them as well.

I was thinking of doing this too. You can get most radio stations out of your smartphone, so the need for a head unit is going by the wayside.

What's the output from an ipod?

If you want to try it on a budget, these sound really good for the money

Your still going to need a radio/headunit either way. You can't just go straight from the ipod into the amplifier, there are multiple reason it will not work or work well one of the biggest being the ohm's of the ipod outputs. You can get a cheap dual brand headunit if you looking for something really low quality and inexpensive.

If the tape player works in your car and you want the cheapest route, I'd go get a tape adapter for your ipod. You'd still need an adapter to charge your ipod while on the road, but its the easiest route for you with what you already have.

Are you a real teenager?

Tom Suddard wrote: Sounds okay to me, but I only listen to my iPod. I haven't listened to the radio since NPR started making podcasts. That being said, there are numerous advantages to having a headunit. With just an amp, you lose your balance and fader setting. Also, it will take up more space, since you aren't going to mount it where the radio hole will be. That being said, you can get more for your money (as far as sound quality) if you just go with an amp.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Are you a real teenager?

Tom Suddard wrote: Sounds okay to me, but I only listen to my iPod. I haven't listened to the radio since NPR started making podcasts. That being said, there are numerous advantages to having a headunit. With just an amp, you lose your balance and fader setting. Also, it will take up more space, since you aren't going to mount it where the radio hole will be. That being said, you can get more for your money (as far as sound quality) if you just go with an amp.

What surprised you? That I listen to podcasts? That I listen to NPR? That I supported less stereo equipment in a car?

I've had the same thought for my beater truck: iPod > amp > speakers. But the thought of the iPod's output resistance relative to the amp hadn't occurred to me. I'll look into this some more and report back.

And yeah, the tiny iPod Nanos have built in FM receivers nowadays. The only problem is, AM radio is much more appropriate for my truck.

Some more pros for just and amp and aux input. It is a Miata so I will be parking it many places with the top down. A blank plate with just an input and volume know would be less tempting to a would-be thief than a full head unit even with the faceplate removed.

Regarding the audio quality, some of the amps I have been looking at have a preamp level input, wouldn't that be perfect for and ipod in?

I'm thinking something like this but with the input jack and knob in place of the switches.

digdug18 wrote: Your still going to need a radio/headunit either way. You can't just go straight from the ipod into the amplifier, there are multiple reason it will not work or work well one of the biggest being the ohm's of the ipod outputs.

Huh. I do it all the time. Works great.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your plan as long as you're sure you won't miss a head unit. Just wire up a 100k Ohm stereo pot for your volume control. I've done it just using the volume control on the iPod, but you have to be really sure to have the volume down when you plug it in!

One other thought- you might want a small switch to send power to the remote power lead so you don't have to have the amp on all the time.

Pretty good thread on this at ClubRoadster.

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=29676

A lot of the factory restoration guys are using a hidden head unit in the trunk with just an Aux/iPod cable in the glovebox (with a remote sometimes too) that works pretty slick. Then there's no visible anything and you still have the ability to adjust fade, balance, bass, treble, volume, AM/FM, etc. In a Miata you wouldn't even need the amp then.

How are the tuners in mp3 players? are they suitable for use on the move?

fast_eddie_72 wrote: One other thought- you might want a small switch to send power to the remote power lead so you don't have to have the amp on all the time.

Just use the "switched" wire hooked up to the ignition, just like you would do with a headunit.

If you have an iPod that you can get to Pandora with...

Pioneer and Alpine both make Pandora head units. You may THINK that you don't need or want that, but you do, and you do.

Ok, since it's been brought up as a realistic idea, and I have an MP3 player that does have FM...

What is a good, simple, cheap amp that I can use that will drive 4 speakers and remain hidden?

Start with one capable of just the headphone output, and then if there are some i(stuff) specific ones, I'm sure many would be interested in those, too. Note- power to MP3 players may be important, too.

My Alfa has a DIN radio that has broken, and I still can put the old one back there to at least cover the hole. But sound is important.

Does the MP3 player have a "preamp" volume control?

Depending on how much space you've got below your seat, you could find an older Rockford Punch amp...

I run a Punch 160 in the Escort, and it sounds great (Though who knows how it sounds outputting signal from a "lossy" file... better amps tend to amplify the crap in crap quality files moreso than junk amps), and fits nicely under the passenger seat. I'd be inclined to believe that if the MP3 player has volume output control, you could PROBABLY just jack that directly into the amp and roll with it.

Any particular reason you don't want a head unit? There's a few companies that i know of that make classy headunits that wouldn't look out of place on an older car. That is, assuming that your resistance to a head unit is the same reason i hate most new ones, that being that i dont' want an alien growing out of my dash blinking a million lights at me.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

The reason is that 1) looking decent tends not to look so decent when the cost is reasonable, or 2) it's really expensive. I'm not too happy with the choices for good looking head units.

heck, I've tried to find a new head unit for my Miata, and the replacements are really obnoxiously ugly. None of them fit the 'deocor' of the stero and dash- and I hate that. (if you know of a green back lit LCD, tell me, especially if it already has bluetooth...)

So for the Alfa, and actually older Alfas that didn't even come with a radio, keeping out a head unit is a nice thing. Music + good looks is a win, win.

I would think any amp with an RCA preamp input would work if you use a simple ipod dock connector to RCA cable, cheap and readily available, or an even cheaper 3.5mm male headphone to RCA cable.

Understood. I've been fighting the same thing with the MX6.

In your case, if you were willing to bend on the no headunit aspect, i'd be looking at Nakamichi, Denon, or the Rockford copies of the Denons.

But otherwise... i think using your MP3 player as your volume control would work, running directly to an amp.

Couple H/U ideas (don't know your budget:)

http://cgi.ebay.com/DENON-CAR-CD-PLAYER-DCT-R1-STEREO-DCT-A1-DCT-Z1-AUX-/230592590748?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item35b063b39c

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nakamichi-CD400-AM-FM-CD-Player-Sound-Quality-unit-/110576200879?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item19bedaecaf

Here's a Nak preamp with an aux input for your MP3 player:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nakamichi-TA-25-Mobile-Tuner-Amplifier-New-Old-school-/170610443951?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item27b92cc6af

It's got VU METERS!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-CQ-VX5500D-CAR-DOUBLE-DIN-CD-MD-DSP-STEREO-/230588230464?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item35b0212b40

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

I'll look at the suggestions later, but I'm happy to bend the headunit thing, if I can find one that I think looks right. That's easy.

The looking right part seems to be almost impossible. Especially for a reasonable price. I already know I can take my old Blaupunkt head unit, and have it converted to fully digital for $250-300- but when you look at all of the options, well- an amp + a decent MP3 player can do that for a lot less. And it really makes one think about the end goals.

z31maniac wrote:

fast_eddie_72 wrote: One other thought- you might want a small switch to send power to the remote power lead so you don't have to have the amp on all the time.

Just use the "switched" wire hooked up to the ignition, just like you would do with a headunit.

Certainly, but then it's on whenever the car is on. Even if you're not using it. Not a huge deal, really, but it is some draw on the alternator (which in turn is a drag on the engine). I'd want to be able to turn it off when I'm not using it. But then, I get kind of anal about that stuff, making sure the heater fan is off before I start an autocross run.

alfadriver wrote: Ok, since it's been brought up as a realistic idea, and I have an MP3 player that does have FM... What is a good, simple, cheap amp that I can use that will drive 4 speakers and remain hidden? Start with one capable of just the headphone output, and then if there are some i(stuff) specific ones, I'm sure many would be interested in those, too. Note- power to MP3 players may be important, too.

Did you miss the link to the TA 2020 amps?

I have one in my shop. You CANNOT beat the sound quality for the price. Do a search for class T amp.

I just ordered another. $22 to my door with power supply.